Sunderland charity given new lease of life thanks to regional contractor True North Construction

Soundwaves Talking Newspaper, in Thorney Close, Sunderland, had its workspace and facilities refurbished thanks to True North Construction.

The contractor helped clear underused rooms and redecorated the meeting room, and was delivered as part of True North Construction’s commitment to giving back to communities it works in.

Natalie Henderson, director of compliance and social value at True North Construction, contacted Sunderland City Council for details of local organisations needing support.

Soundwaves Talking Newspaper stood out, having been on the council’s list for some time and holding personal significance for Natalie and her husband Steven, who have family members with partial sight.

Natalie said: “We wanted to support something local while we were working in Sunderland and Soundwaves really stood out.

"It’s a fantastic service that makes a real difference to people’s lives, and it’s also something that resonates with us personally.

"Being able to use our skills and resources to give the space a fresh start was incredibly rewarding for the whole team.”

Soundwaves Talking Newspaper helps people who are blind or visually impaired access news and information in audio format.

Philip Oliver, chairman of the Soundwaves Committee, said: “Natalie and her team were very professional and friendly.

"They worked around our recording schedule to minimise disruption to our programming.

"This support has made a huge difference to us.

"True North Construction has completely transformed our meeting room, creating a much more comfortable and practical environment for our volunteers.”